Residential Halls and Dorms
First-year students will usually live on campus. It is even required at some colleges. You may find that you are not able to pick your roommate, and they are assigned to you. Some of you will be commuting, so you will not be living in campus housing. This can be an advantage and a disadvantage. You can save money, but you may not feel as integrated into the campus.
Your dorms will often have residential advisors, who are juniors or senior students at the college. Their purpose is to help you acclimate to the college campus and adjust socially. They will facilitate social events to create a sense of unity and solidarity. They will also be around to help with advice or mediation.
Getting along with peers and neighbors has a lot to do with maturity and compromise. People’s backgrounds will vary, and the best way to make your experience together better is to keep an open mind, talk with each other about boundaries and preferences, share responsi- bilities around the living space, and keep each other updated on your whereabouts and plans.
If you are living off-campus, be sure to understand the conditions of your rental agreement, such as monthly cost, utility bills, deposit, and how to terminate a lease. Rather than fees for room and board being automatically withdrawn from your student financial account, those of you renting off-campus will have to pull the money from your student account and pay the landlord on your own. There are a lot of deadlines for securing a room on- and off-campus, so be sure to meet them so you can start your term with a place to sleep.
Fraternities and sororities have gained a lot of attention lately. They have often been a concern for college administrators and staff, and the reporting of fatal events has increased their notoriety. If you are a part of one, it is important that you keep yourself and others safe. As brothers or sisters, this is one of the key parts of being in the family. Other opportunities include helping each other in difficult situations and being responsible with academics.
The inability to pay for housing is a serious issue for many students. In this case, I recommend talking to college personnel, parents, and to seek outside support. Sometimes it’s necessary to take time off and strategize about finances.
Your dorms will often have residential advisors, who are juniors or senior students at the college. Their purpose is to help you acclimate to the college campus and adjust socially. They will facilitate social events to create a sense of unity and solidarity. They will also be around to help with advice or mediation.
Getting along with peers and neighbors has a lot to do with maturity and compromise. People’s backgrounds will vary, and the best way to make your experience together better is to keep an open mind, talk with each other about boundaries and preferences, share responsi- bilities around the living space, and keep each other updated on your whereabouts and plans.
If you are living off-campus, be sure to understand the conditions of your rental agreement, such as monthly cost, utility bills, deposit, and how to terminate a lease. Rather than fees for room and board being automatically withdrawn from your student financial account, those of you renting off-campus will have to pull the money from your student account and pay the landlord on your own. There are a lot of deadlines for securing a room on- and off-campus, so be sure to meet them so you can start your term with a place to sleep.
Fraternities and sororities have gained a lot of attention lately. They have often been a concern for college administrators and staff, and the reporting of fatal events has increased their notoriety. If you are a part of one, it is important that you keep yourself and others safe. As brothers or sisters, this is one of the key parts of being in the family. Other opportunities include helping each other in difficult situations and being responsible with academics.
The inability to pay for housing is a serious issue for many students. In this case, I recommend talking to college personnel, parents, and to seek outside support. Sometimes it’s necessary to take time off and strategize about finances.